One Spring Broken? You May Be Able to Fix It Without Replacing Both Springs

If you discover that one of the springs supporting your garage door is broken, your first reaction may be to assume you need to replace both springs for safety reasons. However, this isn’t always the case – it’s possible in some situations to replace just the single broken spring. 

In this article, we’ll look at the factors involved in making this determination and how to do the repair yourself, if suitable. Reaching out to Garage Door Spring Repair in Portsmouth can also help assess repair options.

Evaluating the Door Balance

The first step is to examine how balanced your door remains with one spring intact. Manually lift the door about halfway and try to hold it stationary at chest level without letting go. If the door maintains position well without drifting open or closed, it’s a good sign the remaining spring may be sufficient on its own.

Checking the Existing Springs

Inspect the unbroken spring and compare it to the diameter of the replacement part. There needs to be less than a 20% difference in diameter to avoid overstraining the single spring. Springs are rated for the weight of each door. If the intact spring appears stretched or worn beyond its normal lifecycle, replacing it as well is advisable.

Determining Spring Types

Some garage doors use torsion springs mounted vertically on each side, while others have extension or lifting springs above the door. Only vertical torsion springs support the entire weight and can allow for replacement of just one spring. Horizontal or extension springs usually require that both be replaced together. Contacting Garage Door Spring Repair in Portsmouth can help identify your spring types.

Safety Considerations for Single Spring Repair

Replacing one spring reduces risk compared to leaving a door partly supported, but safety measures are still important:

• Only attempt the repair if you have experience and use the proper tools and safety equipment like gloves and eye protection.
• Temporarily brace the door with wood beams to avoid injuries if the remaining spring fails under weight during installation.
• Consider contacting a professional technician like Garage Door Spring Repair in Portsmouth if you have any doubts about your abilities. It may be worth paying for their expertise on this potentially dangerous task.

How to Replace a Single Broken Torsion Spring

If all checks out for a single torsion spring repair, here are the basic steps:

1. Position locking pliers tightly on the shaft where the broken spring coil used to be to secure it.
2. Using a winding bar inserted in the winding cone, carefully unwind any remaining tension in the intact spring.
3. Remove all pieces of the broken spring. Clean and grease the shaft.
4. Slide one end of the new spring into place on the center shaft while keeping tension with your winding bar.
5. Twist the winding cone to coil the spring onto the shaft, gradually adding turns as specified for your door weight.
6. Repeat steps on the other side, rebalancing the amount of turns as needed to achieve a balanced door lift.
7. Double check spring torque rates before removing safety locks and winding bars.

Done correctly, a solitary replacement spring can offer considerably cheaper repair compared to replacing both. However, calling in a professional is recommended if there’s any uncertainty in safely handling the door yourself. When in doubt, always choose complete safety repairs over potential short term savings.

Deciding on Single Vs Double Spring Repair

With the right expertise, either a single broken torsion spring or both extension springs may be repairable without replacing the set. But certain circumstances like aged, mismatched or overloaded springs usually necessitate a full replacement for optimal continued performance and safety. Consulting a trusted garage door technician service like Garage Door Spring Repair in Portsmouth allows getting an experienced opinion on the best repair approach. With care and using qualified help when needed, garage door owners can keep their systems in good working order for many years of reliable use.